If you need help, you can always count on George. A desire to help others is deeply ingrained in who he is. It's fitting then that his role in retail operational support revolves entirely around assisting people – both customers and his colleagues. After five years working in various stores, he has now moved to the company's head office. This is the story of George Munteanu, one of the most dedicated associates at Mega Image, Ahold Delhaize’s brand in Romania.
After starting his career as a legal consultant and later moving into design and art direction roles at a PR agency, George made a career switch in his early thirties. Looking for opportunities to learn something new and explore a different career path, he turned to Mega Image. “To be honest, when I applied for a job here, I knew nothing about the company beyond what I had experienced as a customer. But once I started working here, I immersed myself in the business and got to know everything about the organization over the next five years.”
The move to Mega Image’s HQ
George’s recent relocation to Mega Image’s headquarters in Bucharest came with a shift into the role of Help Desk Support Operator. “I had long wanted to move to the head office and had expressed this hope within the company. I’m an ambitious person, and this move is a great chance for me to learn and grow professionally. When I was approached for this new role, I was thrilled and grateful for the opportunity and the challenge ahead of me.”
“I’m now part of the Operations team, overseeing operations across all of Mega Image’s stores in Romania. My responsibilities have greatly expanded from managing only a few stores to now supervising over 400 locations across the whole country. It’s my job to focus on the almost 850 recycling machines that were recently installed in all of our stores to collect plastic bottles and cans. This large-scale operation has come with certain challenges. I handle all the machine-related issues that stores report in the system and work to resolve them as quickly as possible. On a bad day, I deal with over 100 issues; on a good day, I handle around 20.”
The biggest difference between working in a store and at the head office is that George no longer interacts with customers directly every day. “These days I spend a lot of time at my computer. I still see myself as a central point of support, though. Although my focus now is on helping my colleagues across various stores, this indirectly benefits all Mega Image customers. I might not engage with them face to face, but knowing that I'm having a positive impact on both shoppers and my co-workers keeps me connected and fulfilled in my role."
Making an impact
When it comes to making a positive impact, George excels on multiple fronts. We didn’t introduce him as "one of the most dedicated colleagues at Mega Image" for no reason. Always eager to get involved, he’s taken on key roles in various social initiatives and campaigns. For instance, as part of the company’s internal volunteer program, “12 Acts of Kindness”, he recently participated in the 2024 Swimathon. This annual sports event is dedicated to raising funds for a variety of social causes, and in this way Mega Image’s volunteers help to change and develop communities in need. Alongside other colleagues within the Mega Community, George supported one specific NGO's cause, ensuring that a group of 50 children received supplies and everything they need to go to school.
“Where does he envision himself in another five years? “He says he really doesn’t know. “Even tomorrow could be full of surprises. The future is unpredictable. My hope is to continue to have opportunities to develop and grow, as well as to get involved in projects and roles that allow me to bring smiles to people's faces and help the community. In my free time, I also enjoy making a difference. For eight years, I assisted as a rescue worker in the mountains, helping hikers and climbers in distress. Anyone in need of help can count on me.”
Perhaps the only time you can’t reach George for help is when he’s at the cinema watching a new release – a weekend ritual for him. If he's not at the movies, HBO and Netflix offer perfect alternatives. “I love almost all films, regardless of the genre. There’s no question about it: my all-time favorite is Gone with the Wind. In addition to watching movies, I also find driving incredibly relaxing. On days when I’m not working, I love just getting in the car and going for a drive. The destination doesn’t matter; it's all about the journey.”
Name: George Munteanu (1987)
Started working at Mega Image: July 2019
Studied: Law, Dimitrie Cantemir Christian University (2012)
Living with: On my own
Hobbies: Watching movies and going to the gym
Wake me up in the middle of the night for: If someone needs my help, they can always wake me up
Favorite holiday destination: Iceland
Life-changing event: Being part of Salvamont – a mountain rescue team – for eight years. It has taught me to live my life the way I do and it has prepared me for unexpected situations where you need to act calmly and rationally in order to make the best decisions
Biggest source of inspiration: Different experiences in my life have shaped me into the person I am today. I’ve learned from everything that has happened to me – both good and bad. So I guess you could say that life itself inspires me
Best advice I’ve ever received: “Always keep your head up”
